Italy has a long history of higher education, with some of the first European universities founded there in the Middle Ages. Today it is home to many prestigious institutions that rank highly worldwide. Higher education in Italy includes undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as PhD programs. Some of the top-ranked universities in Italy include Politecnico di Milano, Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, Sapienza University of Rome, and the University of Bologna. Admission requirements, costs, and programs of study are outlined for international students interested in Italian higher education.

1. HIGHER EDUCATION IN ITALY

2. Some of the first universities in Europe were founded
in Italy during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. The
University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is recognized
as the oldest university to still operate. Today, Italy is
the home of many prestigious institutions of higher
education. Many of Italy’s institutions perform well in
the QS World University Rankings, appearing in the
top 200 each year.
Italy has played an important role in recent reform of
higher education. This reform is known as the
“Bologna Process”. The country is one of the four
countries that created the European Area of Higher
Education. This was formed by signing the Sorbonne
Declaration in 1998, which was to be the first step in
the higher education reform. Today the Bologna
Process is now being implemented throughout Europe.

3. Italy has several levels of higher education. Completing
undergraduate studies (bachelor’s degree – ‘laurea’) can lead to
master’s studies and earning a master’s degree (‘laurea
magistrale’). Bachelor’s studies typically take 3 years to
complete and master’s studies take 1 year. Following the
completion of your masters studies you can do a PhD which
usually lasts 3 academic years.
There is a credit system in place to quantify the amount of work
needed to pass each course (e.g. 25 work hours = one credit), as
well as an opportunity to change your course or continue your
studies abroad after three years. Students wishing to study law
must take the five-year Laurea Magistrale a Ciclo Unico, while
medical students must take a six-year degree.
Italy has around 97 universities, which are divided into
several categories:
• State universities: These are state funded public
institutions and make up the majority in Italy.
• Other publicly funded universities: Funded by
Province rather than state.
• Private universities: Non state funded.
You will also find 137 other higher education institutions
throughout Italy. These are academies that specialise in
certain sectors. They range from art, music and dance
colleges, to research based and technical institutions.

4. Required university application
documents:
• Identity document
• Passport type photograph
• Academic transcript
• University application form
• Detailed study programmes/course
description (must contain the number of
hours of the courses or training
activities that you have completed
according to your academic
curriculum)
• CV
• Letter of recommendation
• Letter of motivation
• Language proficiency (English or
Italian)
• Portfolio (only for applicants to
architecture, urban planning, or any
design programme)
• Official score SAT or ACT

5. University application deadlines in Italy
Mid-April to mid-May: contact the Italian embassy/consulate to
receive a Letter of Academic Eligibility and Suitability
(Dichiarazione di Valoro in Loco).
Deadlines for applications may vary according to each
institution, so always check with the university you are
interested in and try to apply as early as possible.
Admitted students are usually ranked based on their grade point
average (GPA) from previous studies. Students from countries
where admission to university is possible after 10 or 11 years of
study must prove that they have passed all necessary
examinations for two years or one year, in order to reach the
total of twelve years of study.

6. Popular degree subjects in Italy
There are plenty of disciplines you can pick from to
study in English in Italy. Here are just a few of the most
popular options to consider:
• Master degrees in Industrial Design in Italy
• Master degrees in Visual Arts in Italy
• Master degrees in Communication Sciences in Italy
• Master degrees in Health Sciences in Italy
• Master degrees in Economics in Italy
Exchange Programs
Many European students that decide to study in Italy on
exchange agreements, do so under the European
Community Socrates Erasmus program. In all
universities there is a European Officer dedicated to the
management of this education program. Other exchange
students from outside Europe can attend through
bilateral agreements between their university and the
host institution in Italy.

7. Tuition fees at Italian institutions vary, but they are
generally lower than in other parts of Europe or North
America. The cost of tuition will vary at each
institution. However, you should expect to pay more if
you choose to attend a private university. A bachelor’s
course will, on average, cost €900 to €4,000 per year at
a public institution. Fees at a private institution usually
cost, on average, €6,000 to €20,000 per year. If you are
from the EU or EEA, you probably won’t pay more
than Italian citizens. Other international students should
expect higher course costs.
There are options to help you fund your studies. All
students (Italian and International) can apply for
financial help. The funding will be distributed
according to your financial situation and academic
merit. If you receive support, this can help with tuition
fees, accommodation fees and other living costs.
Contact your chosen institution for information about
what financial support they can offer to you.

8. In Italy institutions do not normally have halls of residence.
They do however offer services to help you find a place to live.
This can include university owned housing, or helping you find
suitable private housing. Private renting in Italy is the more
expensive option.
It's common that students that chose to study in Italy rent a
room rather than the whole apartment. Student housing in Italy
is more expensive in bigger cities and can range from €300 to
€600 a month, depending on the size and location. The
minimum rental period for most accommodation in Italy is one
year, but student accommodation in furnished rooms is usually
available for shorter periods. Prices in cities like Milan and
Rome are considerably higher than those in the rural areas.
Getting a part-time job is a great way to help fund your studies
in Italy. As an EU student, you are able to work without
additional permission. As a non-EU student, your visa will
dictate if you are permitted to have paid employment whilst you
study. If you are allowed to work, it will probably only be up to
20 hours a week.

9. Depending on your nationality, you may need
to get a visa to study in Italy. If you are from
an EU or EFTA country (Iceland,
Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) you
will not need a visa. If you are from any other
country, you will need a visa. All students will
need to present details of accommodation,
proof of financial stability and a
comprehensive health insurance policy.
To get more information about the visa
process, documents required, application costs
and where to apply, you need to visit the
MAECI website and provide the relevant
information. This website will give you
information that is specific to your situation.
If you are a non-EU or EFTA student, you will need
to apply for a residence permit once you have a
visa. This needs to be done within 8 days of your
arrival in the country. You can apply for this at the
post office in your new city of residence. If you
need any advice or information about this process,
your institution will be able to assist. Non-EU
students must have health insurance in order to
apply for a residence permit. There are three
different options for international students.
• Register with the Italian Health Service (SSN) –
you can do this at your Local Health Authority
(ASL).
• Purchase a private health insurance policy in
your own country – it is always advisable to get
this policy validated by the Italian embassy and
translated into Italian or English.
• Purchase a private health insurance policy in
Italy – you can do this before or after your
arrival, but you need it to apply for a residence
permit.

10. Politecnico di Milano
The highest-ranked Italian university at 149th in the world,
Politecnico di Milano ranks particularly well for its art and
engineering courses, with places in the top 20 of the QS World
University Rankings by Subject 2020 for art and design (sixth),
civil and structural engineering (seventh), architecture (seventh),
mechanical engineering (ninth) and electrical engineering (joint
17th). Notable alumni of Politecnico di Milano include celebrated
Italian chemist Giulio Natta, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in
Chemistry in 1963 for his work in high polymers.
Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa
Not far behind is Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa at 167th,
which was established in 1810 by a Napoleonic decree. It’s a
small university, with only around 500 students enrolled. It
ranks within the world’s top 300 universities for agriculture and
receives the highest score among all Italian universities for its
research citations per faculty member (18th in the world).

11. Sapienza - Università di Roma
Ranked 217th in the world, Sapienza - Università di Roma is another of the world’s oldest
universities, founded in 1303. Sapienza is one of the largest European universities, with a
large student population (112,500) of which around 8,300 are from outside Italy. It counts
seven Nobel laureates among its alumni and faculty members, including particle physicist
and inventor Carlo Rubbia.
Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa
Also based in Pisa, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa is ranked joint 175th
in the world this year. Established in 1987 from previously existing
institutions, the university mainly operates in the applied sciences and is
part of the Pisa University System alongside Scuola Normale Superiore di
Pisa and Università di Pisa.
Università di Bologna
Ranked joint 180th in the world in 2019, Università di Bologna (UNIBO) lays
claim to being one of the very first universities established, although the actual
date of its founding is uncertain. If the name sounds familiar, that may be due to
Italy’s continued leadership in higher education. The University of Bologna gives
its name to the Bologna Process, the ongoing project to make academic systems
and qualifications more compatible across Europe.

12. Università di Padova (249th in the world)
Università degli Studi di
Milano (325th in the world)
Politecnico di Torino (joint 387th in the
world)
Università di Pisa (joint 422nd in the
world)
Università degli Studi di Trento (joint
426th in the world)
Università degli Studi di Napoli
Federico II (joint 472nd in the world)
Università Cattolica del Sacro
Cuore (joint 491st in the world)
Università degli Studi di Firenze
(UNIFI) (ranked 501-510)
Universitá degli Studi di Roma - Tor
Vergata (ranked 511-520)